Chapter 125 - 124: People Change

Chapter 125: Chapter 124: People Change

After learning Gu Qingyin’s true identity, Mr. Zhuo was convinced she wasn’t there to scam them, but he still didn’t quite believe what she said. He didn’t say anything more, though. After all, the truth would be revealed by nighttime.

When Zhuo Yan gave the talismans to her parents, Mrs. Zhuo took one, not caring if it worked or not. It would be best if nothing happened, but if something did, perhaps the talisman really could provide some protection?

Mr. Zhuo, however, scoffed. He was a complete atheist who didn’t believe in ghosts at all, thinking it was all just alarmist nonsense.

For most of the rest of the day, Gu Qingyin sat meditating with her eyes closed.

Mrs. Zhuo wanted to invite her to eat, but when she went over and called her name twice without getting a response, she had no choice but to give up.

Mr. Zhuo didn’t leave, either. He kept his eyes fixed on Gu Qingyin, worried she might try to pull some kind of trick.

’Like the kind of tricks they debunk on TV shows...’

But all the way until nightfall, Gu Qingyin remained perfectly still on the sofa, not moving an inch.

Mr. Zhuo’s eyes were getting tired from staring.

Zhuo Yan turned on every light in the house. After encountering the ghost three times, she was genuinely terrified, afraid Tong Xihai might suddenly materialize in some dark corner.

By a little after eleven at night, Mr. and Mrs. Zhuo were so sleepy they could barely stay awake, and their moods had soured.

"It’s getting late. Isn’t Master Gu planning on going home?" Mr. Zhuo’s tone was laced with sarcasm, all but telling her to leave.

Zhuo Yan was on edge as well. She wanted Gu Qingyin to resolve the issue as soon as possible, so she said nothing.

Gu Qingyin remained motionless, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

’...Is she dead? She’s been meditating for over ten hours. Her legs have to be numb by now, right?’

Right at midnight, Gu Qingyin suddenly opened her eyes and uttered two words, "He’s here."

The moment she spoke, the three members of the Zhuo family felt a distinct chill in the air. The sensation was as clear as stepping out of the summer heat and into a cool room.

The problem was, they hadn’t moved an inch.

"Honey..." Mrs. Zhuo’s face went pale as she huddled against her husband.

Mr. Zhuo’s confidence was wavering, but he still tried to sound tough. "There has to be a scientific explanation for this phenomenon."

"Dad!" Zhuo Yan screamed in terror, her eyes wide as she stared at something behind her parents.

Mrs. Zhuo trembled even more violently, able only to manage a helpless whimper, as if an invisible hand were choking her.

Mr. Zhuo froze. ’Behind me... don’t tell me it’s Tong Xihai?!’

"Don’t worry. You have the talismans. He won’t dare touch you."

Gu Qingyin got up from the sofa and walked slowly toward Tong Xihai.

Tong Xihai’s appearance was truly terrifying. His head was partially caved in, his face and clothes were caked with dried, blackened blood, and he dragged a broken leg behind him as he moved.

At first glance, he looked like a zombie.

Gu Qingyin stared into his eyes and asked tentatively, "Can you understand me?"

Some new ghosts are driven only by their lingering obsessions, acting purely on instinct and making communication impossible.

Tong Xihai’s jet-black eyes shifted, landing on Gu Qingyin for two seconds before returning to Mr. Zhuo. His lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.

Gu Qingyin frowned. ’This will be a little tricky if he can’t communicate.’

She touched the pendant resting on her collarbone. "Come out and see if you can understand what he’s trying to say."

And so, Zhuo Yan and Mr. Zhuo could only watch, stunned, as a thick black mist poured from her exquisite pendant. The mist settled on the floor and solidified into a tall, long-legged man... no, a ghost.

Zhuo Yan’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. This was only the second ghost she’d ever seen, and he had already shattered all her preconceived notions of what ghosts looked like.

Aside from being deathly pale, like someone who had pulled three all-nighters, the male ghost in front of her looked exactly like a living person! In fact, he was far more handsome than most.

Zhuo Yan glanced from the male ghost to Gu Qingyin, her curiosity suddenly stirring. For a moment, it even overwhelmed her fear. ’What is the relationship between this human and this ghost?’

Huo Yunjing took a long stride, blocking Tong Xihai. Before Tong Xihai could even lift his head, a wave of Yin Qi emanated from Huo Yunjing, instantly wrapping the other ghost in a pitch-black cocoon.

A few seconds later, the cocoon burst. Tong Xihai stood there looking dazed for a moment before his gaze locked back onto Mr. Zhuo. He was intimidated by the talismans and didn’t dare approach, but he was also unwilling to let the man off so easily. All he could do was stare.

"His neck was injured when he died; he can’t speak," Huo Yunjing explained, then turned to Mr. Zhuo. "Tong Xihai says you promised his family compensation, but they never received a single cent. He also says you sent people to their home to harass his parents and threaten them not to call the police."

Mr. Zhuo was stunned for a second before his face visibly flushed with anger. "That’s bullshit!" he roared. "I signed the paperwork for the wire transfer ages ago!"

A flicker of something passed through Tong Xihai’s eyes, and he tilted his head in confusion.

But he had forgotten his neck was broken. As he tilted his head, it lolled gruesomely to the side, resting on his shoulder. The sight was even more terrifying!

To Mr. Zhuo and his daughter, it looked like a deliberate threat.

Mr. Zhuo flinched instinctively. Mrs. Zhuo, who had her face buried in his chest, felt the movement and burrowed in deeper, squeezing her eyes shut so hard they nearly cramped.

"What about after you signed the form? Did you personally see the money get transferred?" Gu Qingyin asked. "How much was the compensation? Are you certain the person in charge of the transaction wouldn’t embezzle it?"

"Over two million in total," Mr. Zhuo said with confidence. "The man who handled it is a veteran employee who’s been with me for years. I’ve always treated him well. He would have no reason to embezzle that money."

"Let’s call him over and ask," Gu Qingyin said. "You shouldn’t have so much faith in human nature."

Mr. Zhuo hesitated. "But it’s so late..."

Zhuo Yan looked like she was about to go crazy. "Dad! This is no time to be worrying about how late it is! If we wait any longer, I’m the one who’s going to get dragged away!"

Mr. Zhuo’s expression changed dramatically, and he immediately pulled out his phone.

"Old Liu, I need you to come to my house... Yes, right now. It’s urgent, you must come... Okay, I’ll be waiting."

Mr. Zhuo hung up. "He’ll be here in half an hour."

They couldn’t just stand around staring at each other for half an hour.

So, Gu Qingyin asked, "How are Tong Xihai’s parents doing now?"

Huo Yunjing replied, "His father was beaten, and his leg was broken. He’s been hospitalized. His mother works during the day and stays by his bedside at night. Her own health is failing."

Mr. Zhuo was shocked and angered by the news, and a wave of guilt washed over him. "This is my fault," he said. "I’ve been so busy recently, I didn’t have time to go see them."

He had visited them right after the accident, but Tong Xihai’s parents had been cold and distant. Not wanting to impose, he hadn’t gone back, deciding instead to focus on providing generous compensation. He never imagined something like this would happen.

"So, what kind of person is this Old Liu, usually?" Gu Qingyin asked, as if making small talk.

"Old Liu is a very dependable man!" Mr. Zhuo blurted out. "He’s level-headed, reliable, and trustworthy in both character and capability. He would never do something two-faced like this."

Gu Qingyin remained noncommittal. "People change," she said quietly.

Especially when faced with temptation.